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Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students who receive federal and/or state funds administered by the Financial Aid Office must demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to remain eligible to receive federal and state financial aid.  Federal regulations require that all student financial aid recipients make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward achieving a degree.  Progress is measured by the student’s cumulative grade point average and credits earned in relation to those attempted and the length of the academic program.  In order to assure that students make progress toward the degree both in terms of number of hours completed and cumulative GPA, LMC uses the following satisfactory progress policy:

Grade Point Average 

Students must maintain a GPA of at least 1.5 during the first year and have a GPA of at least 2.0 at the end of the second year (measured as a period of time, not by the student’s grade level).  Grades of A, B, C, D, WF and F contribute toward the semester GPA.  Those who do not have a Lon Morris College academic history (incoming freshman or transfer students) will be assumed to be making satisfactory progress at the time of first enrollment.  Developmental course work is included in the semester GPA.

Successful Completion of Courses

Students must successfully complete each semester at least 67% of all hours attempted as of their enrollment at the end of the drop/add period at Lon Morris College.  This includes both developmental and college level course work.  Successful completion is measured by grades of A, B, C, and D. 

Example:  A student is enrolled into 15 hours for a semester at Lon Morris College.  At the end of the semester the student has successfully completed nine credit hours because they received an F in one three hour class and they withdraw from one three credit hour class after the drop/add period.  The student has not meet Financial Aid SAP requirements for the semester because the student needed to successfully complete 10 credit hours out of the 15 credit hour attempted.  Because the student was in Good Standing for the previous semester at LMC, the student will receive federal and/or state financial aid for their next semester at LMC.  They are placed on Financial Aid Warning for their next semester.  

Duration

A student must complete his/her degree in no longer than 150% of the published length of the student’s major.  All college level credit hours attempted toward a major at LMC, whether or not they are completed or passed, are counted toward the maximum duration.  Students who exceed the 150% limit in their course of study will no longer be eligible for financial aid.

Example:  A student is in a program that requires 62 credit hours to graduate – they are entitled to receive Title IV funds for 93 credit hour attempted at Lon Morris College.  When the student reaches 94 credit hours attempted or more they will not be eligible for Title IV funding at Lon Morris College.

Satisfactory Academic Progress will be evaluated on a semester basis, before financial aid is extended for the following academic semester.  Dependent upon their grades, students will be placed into one of three categories “good standing, warning or cancellation” for financial aid purposes as defined below:

• Good Standing.  Students who fulfill the requirements stipulated for maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress will be in Good Standing and eligible to receive funding in the subsequent semester.

• Financial Aid Warning.  Students who fail to meet the semester GPA or fail to meet the 67% completion requirement will be placed on warning for the subsequent semester, but will still be eligible to receive Title IV funds during that semester.  They will be notified of this status by mail.

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• Financial Aid Cancellation.  Students who fail to meet the requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress for two consecutive semesters will be placed on Financial Aid Cancellation for the next academic semester and denied federal and state funding.  They will be notified of this status by mail. 

Academic progress will be evaluated each semester for students receiving federal funds or scholarships, and students will be notified of this status by mail if they are being placed on probation or suspension.

Extenuating Circumstances

Each situation will be reviewed by the Director of Financial Aid and the Academic Dean to determine if the unacceptable GPA was produced because of personal illness, injury, etc.  A decision will be made after this review to decide if satisfactory academic progress can be accomplished and financial aid can continue.

Appeals Process

A written appeal must be furnished to the Financial Aid Director after notification of probation or suspension.  This appeal will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Director and Academic Dean to determine whether to waive the previous action taken.